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THE OHIO TURFGRASS FOUNDATION MAGAZINE | JULY/AUGUST 2011 | Vol. 73, No. 4

4 TURF NEWS • Ju ly /Augus t 2011

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT • Continued

TURF NEWS | THE OHIO TURFGRASS FOUNDATION MAGAZINE | JULY/AUGUST 2011 | Vol. 73, No. 4Contents

FEATURES

07 Upcoming Events OTF Scholarhsip Outing and OSU Turf Club Golf and Clay Shoot Outings

10 Cover Story The Benefits of Turfgrass

15 Turf Talk Can Home Lawns Store Carbon?

18 Golf Course Tips Managing Anthracnose on Putting Greens

DEPARTMENTS

6 President’s Message

6 Director’s Notes

22 Calendar of Events

22 OSU Turf Science Team

22 Index of Advertisers

Front Cover Photo courtesy of Pamela Sherratt, Ohio State University.

5The Ohio Turfgra s s Foundat ion Magazine • TURF NEWS

The Ohio Turfgrass Foundation263 Regency Ridge Dr. | Dayton, OH 45459

Voice/Text: (614) 285-4683Fax: (866) 301-2974

[email protected] | www.OhioTurfgrass.org

Turf News distributes useful and timely advice, information and research from Ohio’s most knowl-edgeable experts and professionals to OTF mem-bers and those in the turfgrass industry.

Publisher

Leading Edge Communications, LLC206 Bridge St. | Franklin, TN 37064Phone: (615) 790-3718 | Fax: (615) [email protected]

OTF Officers

PresidentDoug GallantThe Cincinnati RedsCincinnati, OH

Vice PresidentKim KelloggGrasshopper Prop. Maint.Millersburg, OH

TreasurerMike DietrichJohn Deere LandscapesHuron, OH

Past PresidentJoe EncisoMidwest Turf ConsultantsHilliard, OH

Trustees

Jim DillardMidwest Turf ConsultantsGahanna, OH

Todd DodgeBrown’s Run Country ClubMiddletown, OH

Kyle FrederickRattlesnake Ridge G.C.Sunbury, OH

Tim GloriosoToledo Country ClubToledo, OH

Ryan GregoireAgricultural Design, Inc.Westfield Center, OH

Don LawrenceBlanchard Valley Turf & OrnamentalToledo, OH

Jason StrakaHurdzan/FryColumbus, OH

Director of Education

John Street, Ph.D.The Ohio State UniversityColumbus, OH | (614) [email protected]

Executive Director

Steve JurickVoice/Text: (937) [email protected]

Associate Director

Brian Laurent(614) [email protected]


PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

DIRECTOR’S NOTES

Doug Gallant2011 OTF President

hope everyone’s summer is going well. It cer-tainly is going by quickly. Our executive director, Steve Jurick, and his staff have been very busy

planning all the activities and events coming up in the weeks and months ahead. It is an exciting time to be a member of OTF. Our 50th year celebration at our Conference is going to be great!

The last week of May was Turfgrass Week in Ohio. I hope you enjoyed the publicity we received, and we all hope this week continues to grow in popularity. Thanks go to those who held special activities to promote the impact we have on Ohio’s economy and the positive impact turf has on our environment.

August 10 is our annual field day at OSU. Come and get updates on the challenges we are seeing this year across the state. OTF members also have the

opportunity to play the golf course at OSU Scarlet on September 26. Please get your foursomes signed up early to get your spot in this fun day that raises funds to help support OTF Scholarships.

The Conference and Show in December will have a whole new look, from the show layout to the different opportunities for attendees. As usual, the education will second to none, so please plan to attend December 5–8. This is really one you do not want to miss.

As always, let us know what we can do to make OTF a valuable asset to your career. I hope your summer continues to be productive, and I hope to see you at the many events coming up.

Doug Gallant2011 OTF President

FOUNDATIONFODDER

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

THE CORNER!>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I

Steve JurickOTF Executive Director

we move away from a very cool, damp spring that followed a very dry fall, we’re now starting to

receive that dreaded 150-degree mark with our com-bined lows and highs. The weather pattern of the last year will very likely be the most challenging time of our professional careers. So, I ask you… have you adequately prepared your boss/staff/owners/members/golfers/customers for what may lie ahead?

I heard from a superintendent friend the other day that no one wants to hear excuses, and it’s hard to argue that point. However, you don’t have to make excuses if you educate along the way.

To this point, everyone is overwhelmed with con-tent, but very little wisdom is coming from it. I chal-lenge you to provide wisdom in small doses. A quick, one- or two-sentence text, email, tweet or Facebook post to your constituents can go a long way in helping ensure that you don’t have to make excuses later.

If you don’t know how to take advantage of these methods of communication, make plans to attend the OTF Conference and Show’s many technology-based educational offerings. On Monday, December 5 over at the 4H Center, we will be all about educating you on how you can use technology to your advan-tage. The day will be led by Dr. John Kaminski from Penn State. Bring your laptop, questions and issues, and we will help you design a game plan to tackle your communication needs.

It’s an unfortunate fact of life that we must com-municate better in today’s world. So, again, I urge you to review the messages that you are sending, particularly whether or not they are based on edu-cation and fact, or just excuses.

Steve JurickOTF Executive Director

EVENTS AROUND

As


UPCOMING EVENTS


When: October 9th at 1:00 p.m. (time may change)

Where: Homestead Springs Golf Course 5888 London Lancaster Road Groveport, OH 43125

Why: Fun day of golf brought to you by The Ohio

State University Turfgrass Club, to help raise money for national conference seminar attendance and other club activities that increase the students understanding of the industry and aim to improve their career choice by giving them clearer direction on job selection.

Who: Any students, staff, faculty, alumni, or

anybody interested

The cost per person will be $50. Skins game, door prizes a plenty,

and 50/50 raffle!!

For more information visit: http://www.homesteadsprings.com/

Eric Radachi, Golf Outing ChairOSU Turfgrass Club

Email: [email protected] Cell: 419-787-5643

2011 OHIO STATE TURF CLUB

OUTING at Homestead Springs

Golf Course

THANKS and GO BUCKS!

Hole sponsorship available:

$50

UPCOMING EVENTS • Continued


Continued • UPCOMING EVENTS

Include the following portion when sending in monies.

# of guns if needed Check attached for

SC = Sporting Clays(50) • T = Trap(50)

Singles and groups welcome!

When: October 22, 2011. Registration at 8 a.m.; begin shooting at 9 a.m.Where: Black Wing Shooting Center, 3722 Marysville Road,

Delaware, Ohio 43015 Cost: $95/person – includes Lunch, Panel with OSU Faculty, 1

round Sporting clays (50 clays) or 2 rounds Trap Shooting (50 clays); firearms available (feel free to bring your own), eye and ear protection, ammunition, and safety training.

There also will be side games and other events to help fundraise for the turf club as they prepare to build on their 5th place finish in the GCSAA Turf bowl and 11th place finish at the STMA Turf Bowl.

Contact Nicholas Fisher at [email protected] with ques-tions, or to reserve your spot, send a check made payable to the OSU Turf Club to 344 Howlett Hall, 2001 Fyffe Court, Columbus, OH 43210.

Full group discount available (5 people in same event)

The Ohio State UniversityTurfgrass Club proudly presents our

INAUGURAL CLAY SHOOT at Black Wing Shooting Center

Please come join us for a great day of shooting clays, fun, and a chance to shoot with The Ohio State University

Turf All-Star Shooting Teams.

Group names (5 max)

1) ___________________________________ SC T

2) ___________________________________ SC T

3) ___________________________________ SC T

4) ___________________________________ SC T

5) ___________________________________ SC T


COVER STORY

urfgrass defined is a ground cover composed of close-cut, thickly growing intertwining stems and

leaves of grass plants. The distinguishing characteristic of turfgrasses is their ability to withstand close mowing and still provide a functional, dense and healthy ground cover — that is what sets turf apart from other plants.

The turfgrass industry in the United States is valued somewhere between $40–$60 billion, with over 50 million acres of turf. In Ohio alone, according to a 2007 survey (see Figure 1, next page), the turfgrass industry accounts for $4.6 billion in total economic impact ($3 billion in annual expenditure), with 42,000 people employed in the industry and over 4 million acres of turf grown across the state.

Carbon storage (sequestration)Turf systems play three important roles in society. First, turf plays a role in the natural environment. Turfgrasses, like all plants, capture atmospheric carbon dioxide and use it through photosynthesis to create usable energy in the form of sugars and carbohydrates. With increasing levels of atmospheric CO2 associated with the greenhouse effect (global warming), turfgrasses serve as a source of carbon storage, or sequestration.

Most of the turf volume, or biomass, is below ground (see Figure 2, next page). Given the perennial nature of turf, the storage of carbon in root mass, and organic matter development in the soil, turf is a significant carbon “sink.” An average-sized healthy lawn is a carbon-sequestering system that can capture as much as 300 lbs. carbon per year, and a golf course fairway can capture 1,500 lbs. carbon per year. Research has also concluded that carbon storage in turf is comparable to the rate of carbon storage in land situated in the Conservation Reserve Program. A practical example of carbon sequestration is that one soccer field can offset the carbon produced by a car driving 3,000 miles.

Although positive carbon sequestration does occur in a turf system, some of the benefit is reduced by maintenance prac-tices (hidden costs) that require fossil-fueluse, such as mowing and the production of fertilizer. Reducing carbon emissions during turf management is a consideration for both professional turf managers and homeowners alike. Nevertheless, research over the last few years has concluded that practices like mowing, returning clippings, feeding and watering actually increase the turf’s ability to sequester carbon. Basically, the healthier the turf, the more carbon it can store.

Soil, water and nutrient stabilizationBy holding soil in place, turfgrasses also play an important role in soil erosion, dust control and water runoff. The fibrous root systems of turfgrasses form excellent soil “netting” that reduces dust and stabilizes soil on both flat and sloping areas.

Healthy turf also has the ability to absorb and conserve water, filter water and prevent runoff, which is why turf is often used on slopes, along roadsides and around parking lots. Since turf is a per-ennial, stable ground cover that is not cultivated, it slows stormwater runoff, reducing erosion potential, and it also improves the likelihood of the water infiltrating down through the soil.

Runoff/erosion of soil is considered to be one of the primary causes of nutrient contamination in our water systems.

T

By Pamela J. Sherratt, Deborah Holdren, Dr. T. Karl Danneberger, Dr. John R. Street and Dr. David Gardner, Dept. of Horticulture & Crop

Science, The Ohio State University


COVER STORY • Continued

Reducing stormwater runoff from im-pervious surfaces is a relatively new concept in landscape design, with rain gardens being developed in some res-idential neighborhoods. Some researchers are also recommending designing turf areas to serve as catchments and filtration zones for polluted runoff water.

Turf systems are not only efficient at catching and filtering water, but they are also very efficient at holding on to nutrients. Nutrients like phosphorus are fixed onto soil particles or taken up by the plant, and they do not leach out readily.

The only way for phosphorus and other fertilizer nutrients to leave turf is by one of the following means: (1) if the fertilizer is misapplied to a hard surface like a driveway and not swept up, (2) if the fertilizer is applied to bare soil or frozen soil where it could be washed away with the rain, and (3) if grass clippings are removed or swept onto the driveway/road, etc (see Figure 3, left).

The bottom line is that fertilizers applied to a healthy lawn are held in the soil and utilized by the turf plants.

Turf’s cooling effectAs a community grows from a village to a town to a city, an increase in temper-ature occurs. In major cities, the term “urban heat island” is used to characterize the temperature increase. On warm sum-mer days, the temperature can be 10°F greater in an urban area compared to the surrounding area.

A 5,000-square-foot Kentucky blue-grass lawn contains 9 million individual

2007 OHIO SURVEYPopulation in Ohio &

Acres of Turf

Homes — 3 million2.3 million acres

Lawn Care Companies – 3,3061.1 million acres

Golf Courses – 738110,000 acres

Ref: Economic impact of Ohio’s Turfgrass Industry (2007) Prepared by The Strategy Team Ltd. Columbus. OH for The Ohio Turfgrass Foundation.

Municipalities – 2,151School Districts – 614

220,000 acres(34,000 in athletic fields)

Turf Expenditure$3 Billion

Homeowners 41%

Golf Courses 36%

Municipalities (parks)& others 7%

Lawn Care Companies 16%

Turf Employs 42,000 People

Golf Courses 18,000

Lawn Care Companies 8,000

Churches, schools & others 11,000

Municipalities 5,000

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

Figure 3.


Continued • COVER STORY

shoots, while an average creeping bentgrass putting green contains 72 million shoots.Each of these plant shoots carries a cooling process called transpiration. Transpiration helps reduce temperatures in the envi-ronment by dissipating high levels of radiation. To that end, turf is consider-ably cooler than other common surfaces. Research at Brigham Young University has recorded temperatures on turf that are 20 degrees cooler than bare soils and 40 degrees cooler than synthetic turf.

Transpirational cooling is dependent on an adequate supply of water. In turf areas, water is provided by rainfall and sometimes supplemented by irrigation, depending on the length of the growing season, temperature, evapotranspiration rates, soil type, turf species and manage-ment practices. It is estimated that turf (including residential and commercial lawns, golf courses, etc.) is the single-largest irrigated crop in the United States. While residential landscapes are typically watered with municipal sources, golf course irrigation water comes primarily from on-site ponds and lakes, wells and streams. Only 9.5% of golf courses use public water exclusively.

Ohio is fortunate to have water as an important natural resource. Bordered by Lake Erie to the north, the Ohio River on the south and adequate rainfall during the growing season, water availability and shortages are not as critical in Ohio as in other places in the United States.

Regardless of location, though, if supplemental irrigation is needed, there are many university bulletins and fact-sheets that can be used as guides. These include standard recommendations on irrigation timing, amount and frequency, to make sure that water is used sparingly.

Sport and recreationIn addition to environmental benefits, turf is used extensively for recreation and sport. Lawns and other recreational areas are places where adults, kids and pets can spend time outside of the home. Turf is used for play, for places to relax and for entertaining friends. This all contributes to the quality of our lives.

With over 34,000 acres of athletic field turf and more than 700 golf courses in Ohio, sports are important not just to the economy but also to people’s health and well-being. Per the U.S. census, there are 267 million people in the United


COVER STORY • Continued

States at seven years of age and older. Of those 267 million people, around 80 million people (30% of the population) play sports on turfgrasses.

Of the top 5 sports played on turf, it is estimated that golf courses have the most activity, at 25.6 million golfers, and base-ball and soccer have around 15 million regular participants. The importance of encouraging people to play sports and offering them places to play those sports cannot be downplayed, particularly when the Center for Disease Control estimates that 17% of American children and adolescents are obese. Also, and just as important, it is an outlet for children and adults to spend their leisure time in a positive and safe environment.

Turf in the urban landscapeAnother role that turf plays in society is in its value to the landscape and urban environment. Turfgrasses help provide a pleasing urban environment through noise abatement, glare reduction, fire protection and pest reduction. Turf areas like golf courses and parks also protect and foster wildlife. The natural state of these landscapes, coupled with the addition of trees, ponds, lakes and wetlands, support a diverse population of birds, animals and plants.

Studies looking at landscaping and house values have found a positive rela-tionship between a home’s value and the existence of trees, up to a certain threshold. A more recent study suggests that the existence of a lawn also has a positive effect on the value of a home, with a lawn 1/4 to 1/3 of an acre in size associated with the greatest effect on selling price.

In summaryTurfgrasses are plants that are used extensively as a stable and perennial ground cover. Turf is a positive carbon sink, and it offers many benefits, not just to the environment but also to urban living. Eighty million people in the U.S. play sports on turf, and over 42,000 people in Ohio alone are employed by turf. Most importantly, turf gives us a place to enjoy our families and spend some hard-earned recreation time, which ultimately improves our quality of life. �


TURF TALK

the ongoing buzz of global warming and the talk surrounding regulations of greenhouse gas emissions, increasing emphasis is being placed on ways to reduce

our carbon emissions and ways to capture and store carbon from the atmosphere. Lawns are a permanent ground cover, with an active growth cycle and extensive root systems, and they are often considered as a valuable carbon-storage resource. Despite concerns over the carbon costs (carbon emissions) associated with lawn- maintenance activities (such as mowing, fertilization, irrigation and pest control), the lack of quantified data in this area is very limited.

To determine the net carbon-capture benefit and/or cost associated with lawns, we developed a basic model to identify the potential for carbon storage (or sequestration)in home lawns within the United States. This model compared the carbon accumu-lated by turfgrass to the energy associated with homeowner lawn-maintenance practices or carbon costs. The formula to calculate total carbon sequestration was as follows: Carbon Accumulation – Carbon Costs = Total Carbon Stored

Carbon accumulationAll green plants, including grasses, use carbon dioxide during photosynthesis. In addition to capturing carbon from the atmosphere, grasses are very efficient at storing carbon dioxide in the soil. Since a lawn is a permanent ground cover with an extensive root system that is continually breaking down and regenerating, lawns are able to accumulate carbon (which makes up soil organic matter), and this is essential in the development of a healthy soil structure. It improves numerous soil processes and properties, including plant-available water and nutrient-holding capacities, runoff and erosion reduction, and filtering of pollutants.

With A wide range of carbon accumula-tion rates from peer-reviewed scientific literature was employed as model inputs. These rates covered grasses found across all regions of the U.S and included both warm- and cool-season grass species.

Management inputsA review of homeowner lawn-mainte-nance practices and consumer product-use patterns supplied by The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company was the basis for the devel-opment of management scenarios in this model. The following statistics are national, with minor variations across individual states:

Of the estimated 80 million home lawns in the U.S.:

• Lawns are mown an average of once a week during the active growing season.

• Approximately 50%, or 40 million homeowners, fertilize their lawns.

• 30 million homeowners fertilize once or twice a year (1 to 2 lbs. nitrogen/1,000 ft2).

By Gina Zirkle, M.S. in Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University


TURF TALK • Continued

• 10 million homeowners follow university best management prac-tices (BMPs) or hire a lawn service.

Lawns were divided into three catego-ries to mimic a low- to high-management scenario summarized in Table 1. The categories included minimal input (MI), do-it-yourself (DIY) and university BMPs (best management practices for high-activity turf). Minimal input is limited to only mowing, with no fertilization, pesti-cide or irrigation practices performed on the lawn. The DIY category was based on homeowners’ average lawn-maintenance practices (one to two feedings per year, with minimal supplemental irrigation) previously described. The majority of home lawns are maintained under this low-input scenario. The university BMP recommendations were used as a high-management scenario. Mowing, irrigation and pesticide-use data were compiled from available literature.

Carbon costsEvery lawn-management practice uses energy that can be converted to a carbon cost. The carbon costs for turfgrass opera-tions are not well documented, so farm-operation energy conversions were used (Lal, 2004). In terms of the gas used to operate mowers, electricity to run irrigation, and fertilizer and pesticide production and transportation, these conversions should be similar to main-tenance practices carried out in a home-lawn situation (see Table 2).

The highest carbon cost associated with lawn-management practices was irrigation, due to the energy required to pump the water. However, only 10% to 20% of home lawns are supplemented with irrigation. This makes sense when you look at a precipitation map of the U.S. Over half of the U.S. receives enough rainfall in a given year to support grass growth. The other half may require supplemental irrigation depending on regional climate conditions.

Carbon storedAny management activity that increases plant growth can increase carbon storage; therefore, maintaining a healthy lawn can significantly influence carbon storage. Mowing high, returning clippings, fer-tilizing and conservative watering can actually increase the ability of a lawn to store carbon.

Overall, a healthy lawn can sequester as much as 300 lbs. carbon/year or 1,500 lbs. carbon/acre/year. This is more than the carbon stored by conventional agricultural and is comparable to the carbon stored in prairie land from the Conservation Reserve Program and some of the natural forested areas across the U.S. If you compare that to car fuel emissions, one average-size lawn can capture enough carbon to offset driving a standard-sized car 3,000 miles per year. It may not sound like much, but when you look at the estimated 40 million acres of turfgrass in the U.S., every little bit of grass can make a difference.

Golf courses have been documented to store 892 lbs. carbon/acre/year in Colorado, and farmland converted to golf courses stores 2,230–3,211 lbs. carbon/acre/year in Ohio. The high rate in Ohio is most likely due to the grass supplying a permanent ground cover to the previously tilled farm soil, as well as fertilizer and irrigation management of the course.

Research has been done to compare fertilized fine fescue (irrigated and non-irrigated), Kentucky bluegrass (irrigated) and creeping bentgrass (irrigated) for differences in carbon-accumulation rates. Irrigated fine fescue sequestered the most carbon at 2,989 lbs. carbon/acre/year, while the sequestered carbon from non-irrigated fine fescue, Kentucky bluegrass and creeping bentgrass were 1,240, 1,829 and 1,543 lbs. carbon/acre/year (respectively). All turfgrass species were found to exhibit significant amounts of carbon accumulation over the four-year research period.

With all of this said, carbon storage does not accumulate indefinitely. Soils have a saturation point, but soils can take hundreds of years to reach this point in a turfgrass system. Saturation first occurs in the topsoil and then gradually accumu-lates into the layers below.

ConclusionsSo what does all this mean for the turf industry and the reduction of greenhouse gases? It means that turfgrass is a valuable

LawnsCategory

# of Lawns(millions)

Mowingsper Year1

# of Irrigated Lawns (millions)

Fertilizer Use

MI 40 28 None None

DIY 30 283 – 4.5(10% – 15%)

1 million tons sold/year(The Scotts Miracle-Gro Co., 2006)• 299,000 lbs. nitrogen• 300,000 lbs. phosphorus• 400,000 lbs. potassium

Pesticide Use

None

EPA reported pesticide use estimations in tons/year (U.S. EPA, 2004):• 6,504 tons herbicide• 1,543 tons insecticide

BMPs 10 28 10

Industry-standard recommendations in lbs./acre/year• 131 – 223 lbs. nitrogen• 27 – 45 lbs. phosphorus• 54 – 89 lbs. potassium

Industry-standard recommendationsin lbs./acre/year• 1 pre-emergent herbicide at 1.58 lbs.• 1 post-emergence herbicide combo

at 2.27 lbs.• 1 insect control at 0.08 lb.

Table 1. Summary of parameters, data and assumptions used in the model development.


Continued • TURF TALK

resource and that lawns can play a role in removing carbon from the atmosphere and storing it for extended periods of time. Efficient fertility and management practices optimize the net carbon benefit.

Turf is a good and valued resource for sequestering carbon. There was a net positive in carbon storing under all lawn-management scenarios investigated, from low-maintenance lawns with minimal activity to highly managed lawns used in high-activity areas.

Carbon storage can be maximized with the maintenance of healthy turf with a dense root system. Annual feeding (approx 2 lbs. nitrogen/month during the growing season), mulching grass clippings and minimizing supplemental irrigation help to maximize turf as a carbon sink.

This means that turfgrass is not a carbon-intensive landscape, nor is it a major source of carbon. In fact, managing grass with the appropriate amount of fer-tilizer and irrigation can actually increase the amount of carbon stored. Since the concepts of carbon credits and carbon trading are not being regulated in the U.S., carbon sequestration is an addi-tional benefit of turfgrass that we can continue to promote.

About the authorGina Zirkle graduated from OSU in 2004 with a bachelor of science degree in Plant Health Management. Following graduation, she was hired by The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company as a research spe-cialist in the research and development department working on agronomic new-product development for all of the Scotts Miracle-Gro products. In 2008, she continued her education sponsored by The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company and graduated in March 2010 with a master of science degree in Environment and Natural Resources, focusing on carbon sequestration in home lawns. After grad-uation, Gina accepted a new position within the Scott’s Miracle-Gro Company as a scientist in the environmental stew-ardship department and is responsible for building outreach and education initiatives with non-governmental envi-ronmental stakeholder groups, as well as federal, state and local departments, and academia. In this role, she also provides data, analysis and support for federal and state legislative activities. �

Management Practice

Mowing

Fertilizer

Irrigation

Pesticides

Carbon Equivalent (CE)

1.8 lbs. CE per lb. gasoline

2.0 to 4.0 lbs. CE per lb. nitrogen0.2 to 0.7 lbs. CE per lb. phosphorus0.2 to 0.4 lbs. CE per lb. potassium

14.5 lbs. CE per acre per year

3.7 to 27.7 lbs. CE per lb. herbicide2.6 to 17.8 lbs. CE per lb. insecticide

Table 2. Carbon equivalents for management practices.

Preventative management strategiesWhere concerns exist about this disease — such as a history of the problem, the presence of highly susceptible grass, frequent weather patterns conducive for development of the disease and/or aggres-sive maintenance of greens to meet golfer expectations — it is recommended that the superintendent implement a modified turfgrass health-management strategy and a preventive fungicide program.

Begin fungicide applications two to four weeks prior to the expected onset of the disease. Since disease outbreaks can occur at different times of the year, even

within a small geographical area, keep records of when and under what condi-tions the disease occurs, and use this information the following year as a guide for application timing. Since this disease often can NOT be managed merely with a fungicide program, implement best management practices (BMPs) and integrated turfgrass health management (ITHM) to optimize the vigor and health of the turfgrass.

To avoid chronic basal rot anthrac-nose, one long-term control strategy is to encourage bentgrass on the putting surface; bentgrass is much more tolerant of this disease than many of the annual

bluegrass biotypes. Provide adequate drainage (surface and subsurface), reduce thatch and soil compaction, core aerate, deep-tine cultivate, topdress and verticut to maintain maximum turfgrass health.

Cultural management for active BRATo alleviate basal rot anthracnose, it is wise to first evaluate all aspects of your mowing operations. To minimize damage, avoid mowing when greens are excessively wet and spongy. Mowing soft greens will often result in a lower mowing height, while increasing mechanical damage, which can intensify the disease. Also, switch from grooved to solid rollers. Increase the height of cut, and use walk-behind greens mowers. Divert traffic away from affected areas by moving cups frequently.

To improve plant health, apply light rates of soluble fertilizers. A moderate application of nitrogen from ammonium sulfate or urea (0.1 to 0.125 lb. per 1,000 ft2) is suggested every 7–14 days. When the disease is active, avoid aggressive topdressing, brushing, vertical mowing

asal rot anthracnose (Colletotrichum cereale, formerly called C. graminicola) may be a serious problem on Poa annua (annual bluegrass) and, at times, on creeping bentgrass putting greens. Superintendents often consider this one of the most difficult diseases on greens, especially once the disease

progresses to the basal rot stage and the turfgrass shows signs of thinning. This is especially true when Poa annua develops the disease in early spring or summer.


GOLF COURSE TIPS

BBy Joseph W. Rimelspach, Todd E. Hicks and Dr. Michael J. Boehm, Dept. of Plant Pathology, The Ohio State University

ANTHRACNOSEANTHRACNOSEMANAGING

on Golf Greens


Continued • GOLF COURSE TIPS

and other practices that would reduce turfgrass health.

In autumn, after symptoms have dissipated, core aerate and overseed to increase the amount of bentgrass in the greens. Avoid excessive irrigation at all times, but also avoid wilt and moisture stress. Both extremes in watering increase the disease. Poor surface drainage and/or poor internal rootzone-profile drainage aggravate the disease problem.

Winter and spring symptoms of basal rot anthracnose may be different from the anthracnose foliar blight symptoms that are traditionally experienced in the summer. In most cases, Poa annua or creeping bentgrass is affected, but not both grasses at the same time.

Successful fungicide programs for active BRAOnce the stems and crowns of plants are infected, fungicide(s) placement is very important to manage this disease. Since the pathogen is located inside the crown, lower stems and base of the plants — and since most fungicides are only systemic upward or are local penetrants in the turfgrass plant tissue — the fungicides must be placed at the base of plant.

To accomplish this, a volume of 4–5 gallons of water per 1,000 ft2 is recom-mended. If a sprayer is calibrated for 2 gals./1,000 ft2, often the superintendent will add only one-half the recommended amount of fungicide to the spray tank and then treat the area two times, so that 4 gals./1,000 ft2 of water is delivered with a full rate of fungicide. By using the high volume of water, the fungicide(s) are placed in the crown area and have optimal placement to protect uninfected plants, as well as the best placement to reduce the damage of infected plants. Remember that most of today’s fungicides do not eradicate the pathogen, and successful fungicide programs must be made prior to significant infection by the pathogen.

Products that can be considered for the management of this disease include thiophanate-methyl (Cleary 3336, T methyPro, T-Storm, or similar product),azoxystrobin (Heritage), pyraclostrobin (Insignia), fluoxastrobin (Disarm), prop-iconazole (Banner MAXX), triadimefon (Bayleton), myclobutanil (Eagle), fenarimol (Rubigan), triticonazole (Trinity) &

(Chipco Triton), metconazole (Tourney), tebuconazole (Torque), polyoxin D (En-dorse) and fosetyl-Aluminum (Signature). Review state or regional fungicide recom-mendations for the most appropriate product(s). Resistances to products have been reported. It may be necessary to schedule repeat fungicide applications on 7- to 10-day intervals to arrest basal rot, particularly in annual bluegrass.

Not all of these products are equal or have the same impact on the disease/pathogen, and none will eradicate basal rot anthracnose from the infected plant after the disease is active. These fungicides work best preventively.

Check label instructions for timing intervals and details for the most effec-

tive use of the product. Also refer to the “Fungicides Labeled for Anthracnose on Turfgrass” table on page 21 for more information.

It is also recommended to include foliar nitrogen fertilizer in fungicide appli-cations. Avoid any other chemical or mechanical damage that would reduce turf health.

If using chlorothalonil in curative situations, always apply the high labeled rate. Since chlorothalonil is a contact fungicide, a maximum volume of 2 gallons of water per 1,000 ft2 should be used. High volumes (4 to 5 gallons of water per 1,000 ft2) used to place systemic products at the plants’ crown and base will greatly dilute contact

Early stage of anthracnose on Poa annua green. Note the yellowing of leaf tissue.

Advanced stage of anthracnose on Poa annua green, with rust- or brown-colored leaves.


GOLF COURSE TIPS • Continued

fungicides and reduce their efficacy. A separate application is recommended for the contact fungicides.

In some chronically infected annual bluegrass greens, especially when man-aged at mowing heights of less than 1/8" (0.125") for maximum green speeds, basal rot may NOT be controlled with fungicides. In these cases, chronically infected greens that consist mostly of annual bluegrass may have to be reno-vated and regrassed with an appropriate creeping bentgrass cultivar. There are several options, including resodding, fumigation and reseeding, and complete reconstruction of the diseased greens.

Since Poa annua is often the primary susceptible turfgrass, consider what can be done to convert and maintain the greens to creeping bentgrass.

Another common denominator seen on greens with this disease in the spring is that these courses experienced signifi-cant loss of Poa annua (annual bluegrass)the previous year. Basal rot anthracnose may be more of a problem on greens that have experienced a significant loss of grass in recent history. In addition, low mowing heights of 1/8" or less, along with the associated mowing stress, contribute to the initiation and difficulty in controlling this disease.

Maintenance to maximizeturfgrass health on greens

Mowing issuesThis may be the #1 factor that initiates the onset of anthracnose!

• Minimize ALL mowing stress — avoid scalping or cutting too low, which is often a key factor that leads to anthracnose problems.

• Do not mow when the greens are wet (soft and/or spongy), since this leads to scalping or cutting too low.

• Raising mowing heights. Research has shown that a 0.015" increase in mowing height (i.e., from 0.125" to 0.141") can result in an improvement of turf health and reduced anthracnose.

• Roll the greens to smooth the surface and improve mowing quality. This may reduce the mowing frequency and possibly increase the height of cut.

• Use solid rollers — grooved rollers often lead to a lower cut, resulting in stressed plants and anthracnose.

• Use walk-behind mowers, and reduce mowing frequency (floating-head mowers may help reduce scalping). The key is to manage the proper height of cut.

Fertility programsThe greens need to be growing to be healthy!

• Maintain greens with a sound fertility program for healthy turfgrass (about 3 to 4 lbs. N/1,000 ft2/year).

• Apply 0.1 lbs. N/1,000 ft2 every 7 days or 0.2 lbs. N/1,000 ft2 every 14 days. Soluble fertilizers can be tank-mixed with fungicide applications.

• Conduct soil and tissue testing to ensure that adequate essential elements are available in the soil and in the plants.

Note the discoloring of the crown tissue on Poa annua plants with anthracnose basal rot.

Loss of Poa annua due to anthracnose basal rot.

Water managementIrrigation, surface drainage and subsurface drainage are also critical for healthy turfgrass.

• Avoid over-watering and excessive wet soils, as well as conditions of continuously wet thatch.

• Syringe the greens to prevent wilt. Avoid extremes in soil moisture.

• Improve and/or provide proper drainage to maximize turfgrass health and vigor.

• Install drainage systems or rebuild greens to correct problems of poor drainage.

• Address compaction problems, excessive thatch, rootzone layering and green-design problems.

Grooming, PGRsand pest managementAvoid cultural practices that limit turfgrass growth and health.

• In hot, wet weather, avoid aggressive grooming operations that may severely damage the turfgrass.

• When grooming operations cannot

be avoided, apply fungicides tank-mixed with soluble fertilizers prior to grooming, even if anthracnose is not active.

• Light to moderate topdressing can be beneficial to protect the plant crowns and improve growth and health.

• PGRs can be used as an effective tool to maximize health and as part of an integrated turfgrass health man-agement program. The key point, however, is not to stop growth but to instead manage healthy growth.

• Monitor for other problems, such as parasitic nematodes, other diseases, insect pests, etc.

Fungicides labeled foranthracnose on turfgrassNormally, do not use a fungicide from the same chemical class in succession;

instead, rotate whenever possible. As temperatures increase, keep in mind the growth-regulating side effects of sterol-inhibiting fungicides, and there is considerable variability, depending on the product selected and rate of active ingredient used.

If the disease is active, select the high label rate and the shortest timing interval, and apply the product in the proper amount of water to place the fungicide where the disease is active and to protect the host. It is usually recommended to rotate penetrant fungicides from the dif-ferent classes shown. Contact fungicides are most effective if applied to completely cover the leaf tissue with minimal runoff.

NOTE: Remember the importance of proper placement of the different fungi-cides to maximize effectiveness. Spray volume recommendations:

• Systemics (most are upward-moving only) — 4 to 5 gals./1,000 ft2

• Contacts and local penetrants — 1 to 2 gals./1,000 ft2

Strobilurin- and thiophanate-methyl-resistant biotypes of anthracnose have been reported. Select products that are known to work, and monitor your applications for fungicide resistance. If possible, leave untreated areas as check plots to observe results. �


Continued • GOLF COURSE TIPS

PRODUCTRATE(oz./1,000 ft2)

FAMILY MOBILITY

Daconil Ultrex

Medallion

CL 3336

Endorse

Heritage

Compass

Insignia

Disarm

Banner MAXX

Bayleton 50W

Rubigan 1AS

Eagle 20EW

Trinity

Tourney

Chipco Triton

Torque

Chipco Signature*

3.25 – 5.0 oz.

0.25 – 0.5 oz.

4.0 – 6.0 oz.

4.0 oz.

0.2 – 0.4 oz.

0.25 oz.

0.5 – 0.9 oz.

0.18 – 0.36 oz.

1.0 – 2.0 oz.

0.5 – 1.0 oz.

1.0 – 1.5 oz.

0.2 oz.

0.5 – 1.0 oz.

0.28 – 0.37 oz.

0.15 – 0.3 oz.

0.6 oz.

4.0 oz.

Nitrile

Phenylpyrolle

Benzimidazole

Polyoxin

Strobilurin

Strobilurin

Strobilurin

Strobilurin

SI / DMI

SI / DMI

SI / DMI

SI / DMI

SI / DMI

SI / DMI

SI / DMI

SI / DMI

Phosphite

Contact

Contact

Systemic (upward)

Local Penetrant

Systemic (upward)

Local Penetrant

Local Penetrant

Systemic (upward)

Systemic (upward)

Systemic (upward)

Systemic (upward)

Systemic (upward)

Systemic (upward)

Systemic (upward)

Systemic (upward)

Systemic (upward)

Systemic (upward & down)

Table 1. Fungicides labeled for anthracnose on turfgrass.

* Other phosphite products have shown improved turf health and reduced anthracnose in some studies.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS


OSU TURFGRASS SCIENCE TEAM ADVERTISER INDEX

Turf News is the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation magazine. Subscriptions are complimentary to OTF members. The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, its staff, its board of directors, Turf News, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or their identification as OTF members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in any issue of Turf News.

Copyright ©2011 by the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation. Turf News is published bimonthly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of OTF. POSTMASTER: Send change of address notification to The Ohio Turfgrass Foundation: 1100-H Brandywine Blvd., Zanesville, Ohio 43701-7303. Postage guaranteed. Presorted standard postage is paid at Nashville, TN. Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: OTF allows reprinting of material published here. Permission requests should be directed to OTF. We are not responsible for unsolicited freelance manuscripts and photographs. Contact the managing editor for contribution information. Advertising: For display and classified advertising rates and insertions, please contact Leading Edge Communications, LLC, 206 Bridge Street, Franklin, TN 37064, (615) 790-3718, Fax (615) 794-4524.

Horticulture &Crop Science

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Entomology

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InternationalPrograms

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August 10OSU/OTF AnnualField DayOTF Research CenterColumbus, OH

August 11OLCA Annual Field DayOTF Research CenterColumbus, OH

August 18–19Landscape Industry Certified Technician TestOSU-ATI CampusWooster, OH

September 26OTF Scholarship Golf OutingOSU Scarlet CourseColumbus, OH

October 9OSU Turf Club Golf OutingHomestead Springs G.C.Groveport, OH

October 22OSU Turf Club Clay ShootBlackwing Shooting CenterDelaware, OH

October 27–29Green Industry &Equipment ExpoKentucky Expo CenterLouisville, KY

December 5–8Ohio TurfgrassConference and ShowGreater ColumbusConvention CenterColumbus, OH

Barenbrug USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Back Coverwww.BarUSA.com

C & S Turf Care Equipment . . . . . . . . . . .14www.csturfequip.com

Green Velvet Sod Farms, Ltd. . . . . . . . . . . .5www.greenvelvet.com

ITT Flowtronex . . . . . . . . Inside Back Coverwww.flowtronex.com

Lebanon Turf . . . . . . . . . .Inside Front Coverwww.lebturf.com

MAC Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9www.MacAthletix.com

Medina Sod Fams, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17www.MedinaSodFarms.com

Pro/Angle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17www.Pro-Angle.com

Quali-Pro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3www.Quali-Pro.com

Syngenta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14www.syngenta.com

The Pond Lady . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5www.ThePondLady.com

Wehrkamp Enterprises, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . .13www.wehrkampenterprises.com

Wood Bay Enterprises, Inc. . . . . . . . . Inside Back Coverwww.WoodBayTurfTech.com

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